Tile cutter with gauging means



Nov. 25, 1952 M. CRAIN TILE CUTTER WITH GAUGING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Oct. 13, 1949 2T 2 J m 9 7 8 T 9 9 2 N g9 m JP. m] M/ C d E r. m Mm w m F 8 I a l 4 8 4 m Nov. 25, 1952 M. CRAIN 2,619,173

TILE CUTTER WITH GAUGING MEANS Filed Oct. 13, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3. 22 26 Millard Ora/n INVENTOR.

Nov. 2 5, 1952 M. CRAIN 2,619,173

TILE CUTTER WITH GAUGING MEANS Filed Oct. 15, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Millard 6min INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TILE CUTTEB WITHMEANS Mil ard Grain, San Jose, Calif, Application October 13, 19.49,serial'No, 1-21Ji15 11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to cutting devices and particularly appertains toa gauge and cutter adaptable for laying out linoleum and for ut: tingtile blocks and the like.

The primary object of this invention is to simultaneously measure andout a tile block or linoleum strip.

Another important object of this invention is to gauge the space betweenthe edge of laid tile o flo n d the Well n to s mu neele out a tile o oong ock o eehferm 9 th measurements of the space.

Another important object of this invention is to reduce the timerequired for laying a pargueted block flooring or tile floor byproviding a combination gauge and cutter, whereby various spaces may begauged and simultaneously the blocks may be cut to a dimension inconformity with the space.

Th e a d an i ary b ects ar a ta n d y employing a preferred embodimentof this in.- vention, which consists of a base having surface, engagingmeans, whereby, the base is rendered movable over various surfaces,cutting means being mounted on one end of the base and a tile oc r o inblock upport n m mbe bens s debl m unt d on th h f r i ed ns a blo r l tv to h cut in means th block being cut to conform to the dimensions of.a spa au ed b a mova l sause ember con.- nected to the fioorin-g locksupporting member and a fixed gauge member carried by thebase andadapted to abut against the edge of thejlaid flooring. V

The preferred embodiment of this invention :is set .f in the i w ns d sr p i n and is illustrated in the ;acco mpa ny drawings, wherein;

Figure l is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View taken on line 22 ofFigure 1-.

Figure 3 is a bottom planview. thereof;

Figure {1 is a transverse seotional viewtahen on line s t of Figure l; v

Fi ur h n n ed ragme ta front eleyational view, illustrating the finedgauge member carried by the base frame;

Figure 6 is a fragmentany bottom plan yiew, illustrating a fixed gaugemember which is employed for use in laying diagonal lines of blocks;

F gure '7 is a vertical sectional view thereof Figure 8 is a fragmentaryfront elevational view thereof Figure 9 is a diagrammatic showing of thedesvice, illustrated inFigure 6, in use; and I Figure 10 is a .detailsectional view of another former cutter, which employs a shearingaction.

In the accompanying drawings, attention be? ing first directed toFigures 1 to 5, inclusive, the combination block cutter and gauge toin.- cludes a, frame 1; consistin o a ase plate L4 having a centeropening I61 Longitudinal side walls 3 and 2D depend from the marginaledges o he base plate and are integral therewith, he id Walls av nghorizontally disposed flanges or corner shields 22 formed at theiropposing ends. Afront wall 24 extends between the side walls and ballearin s 2.6 are mounted in th corne sh e ds or p sts .22. A ar 28 s seured by trans.- verse bolts 30 to depending flanges 32 formed on therear ed e of t ba and a b ll 34 is mounted in the bar,

u t mea s 6 is verti a y mount d on the r ar end of t base plat thecuttin means cluding a pair of vertically. dispo d o hg channel bars 38and All havin blocks l m s elly formed on their upper ends, The channelbars are seated on the base and bolted. thereto by means of bolts 4.4 diosed t o h late a flanges 46. 11 th l we e ds of he bars, t e ba s be:risidified by bra e me ns .48.- A f ed se ter blade 5.0 is m unted ansves l b w en the opposing bars and held th rei b means o a wedge block 52.A movable cutter 5.4 is slidably mounted between the b rs e utt rincludin a block aving opposi g r uc d Q .$1ir ably mounted in the channo t here; the ends .58 be m u ted on oil s ings to disposed in thechanne s- A cut bl d .2 is anchored .in the lower end of the blo k ndisposed in vertical alignment and cutting engagement with the fixedblade.

Means is provided for moving the ngvable blade, against the urge of thespring 69, into cutting relation with the fixed blade and includ s asquar bl ck 6.4 mounted paralle abov the movable cutter .54 and formedwith p11..- center journaling ends .66 rotatably journaled in bearingblocks .68 mounted in he channels. Rings 10 are disposed concentricabout the op.- posing ends of the blocks and mounted ba l bearings 12..the rings being nsasee l on the upp r .fa o the cutter b ock .55- A hande '14 projects lateral y from the ce te of the bloc and v t c sw nginmov mentof the han results in a r ta y. move nt of the block the le heis e nt l el mo d between the channel bars th re y produ g a d wnward movment oflthe moyablegcutter relative t the fixed edited Means is.Provided .oradjus ing the cu ters 3 and relaxing the tension on themovable cutter, the means including adjusting screws I6 threadinglydisposed through the upper ends 42 of the bars and havin their inner orlower ends bearing on the journaling blocks 68 slidably mounted in thechannels.

Means is provided for supporting a flooring block, such as tile or thelike, I8 and includes a supporting member or bar 88 transverselydisposed across the open center I6 of the base, the bar having anupstanding flange or lip 82 terminating in a horizontally disposedflange 84. The flange 84 is formed with outwardly facing shoulders,constituting a stepped flange, the edges of the floor blocks I8 beingadapted to abut the shoulders and being supported thereby, as seen inFigure 2, it being noted that the flange 84 is coplanar with the uppercutting edge of the fixed cutter blade 58, so that the block issupported n the fixed cutter blade and on the flange 84. Means isprovided for moving the bar 80 relative to the cutter, to enable thecorrect portion of the block to be sheared or cut off, so that the blockis cut to the proper dimensions of the space between the outer edge ofthe laid blocks 86 and i 4 the wall 90, as seen in Figure 2. This meanspreferably includes a fixed gauge member or bar 92, which is bolted bybolts 94 or otherwise securely aflixed to the front bar 24, the fixedgauge member having a lower beveled end 98 terminating below thesupporting balls 26 and 34. As seen in Figure 2, the lower edge 96 ofthe fixed gauge member is adapted to engage the edge of be inclinedrelative to the axis of the cutters. Furthermore, the springs constantlyurge the supporting member away from the cutters so that when the rodsare positioned against the wall 90, the fixed member abutting the edgeof the block 86, the supporting member is held in a substantially fixedposition and the block I8 is therefore uniformly and evenly cutresponsive to the outline formed by the gauge means.

Attention is directed to Figure 10, wherein another type of cuttingmeans I26 is provided, the

1 same including the movable cutting assembly 56 the floor blockadjacent to the wall, while movable gauge means 91 is provided and isoperatively connected to the supporting member 80, so that the member ismoved relative to the cutters, until the length of the block I8 betweenthe supporting flange 84 and the cutter is workably equal to thatbetween the edge of the block 86 and the wall 90. This means preferablyincludes a pair of elongated rods 98 and I00, which are slidablydisposed through the front of the base and have rollers I02 rotatablyjournaled on vertical axes to their outer ends. Elongated slots I04 andI06 are formed in the base, parallel to the sides of the center opening,the rods being vertically aligned with the slots. The inner ends I88 ofthe rods are externally threaded and are disposed through axial passagesformed in blocks IIO, nuts II2 being disposed on the opposite sides ofthe blocks to secure the rods therein. The blocks project upwardlythrough the slots and the opposing ends of the bar 80 are attached tothe blocks by means of set screws I I4.

Means is provided for yieldingly retaining the supporting bar adjacentto the front of the base and away from the cutter, the means preferablyincluding twin springs H6 which are horizontally mounted in a housing H8on the under side of the base adjacent to the front wall 24, the springsbeing mounted on rotatably journaled hubs and being connected by meansof a flexible connecting member I to the bar. In one embodiment, as seenin Figure 3, the flexible member extends through a transverse openingI22 in the bar and is knotted, as at I24.

In use, it can be seen, with respect to Figure 2, that the supportingmember will be moved on the base relative to the cutter by means of therods 98 and I00. It is to be particularly noted that the rods 98 and I08can assume independent positions with respect to the bar 80, through thepivotal connection II4, so that the bar 80 can and the movable cutterblade 62 but having a fixed block I28 anchored between the channel barsby a wedge block or supporting block I30. Thus, a shearing action isobtained as the blade 62 is brought downwardly into shearing engagementof the fixed block I28.

For the purpose of forming and cutting blocks which are to be laid indiagonal lines, attention is directed to Figures 6 through 9. It will benoted that the same is similar to Figs. 1-5, but an attachment block I32is provided. The block I32 is secured by screws I34 to the lower edge ofthe front wall 24, the wall having vertical bores I36 formed therein toaccommodate the screws. The block I32 is horizontally disposed andextends rearwardly from the front wall, the block being parallel withthe base. As seen in Figure 9, the block is provided with opposinginwardly and rearwardly directed end walls I31 and I38, the walls beingadapted to abut against the inner slanting walls of adjacent floorblocks or panels.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A tile cutter including a base having front and rear ends and adaptedto be moved forwardly and rearwardly toward and away from a wall overtile laid on a floor and spaced from the wall, a fixed gauge member onthe front end of said base for engagement with the edge of the laid tileto limit movement of said base away from the wall, cutter means on therear end of said base for cutting a tile block to be laid in said space,and gauge means extending forwardly of the base and slidable rearwardlythereon toward said cutter means by engagement with said wall to spacesaid gauge means from said cutter means in accordance with the spacebetween the edge of the laid tile and the wall whereby to gauge the sizeto which the tile block shall be cut by the cutter means.

2. A tile cutter according to claim 1, said gauge means being springtensioned against rearward movement to urge the base rearwardly into itslimit of movement away from the wall.

3. A tile cutter according to claim 1, said gauge means including a tileblock supporting member extending transversely of said base and slidablerearwardly thereon.

4. A tile cutter according to claim 1, said gauge means including a tileblock supporting member transverse to said base and slidable rearwardlythereon and having a stepped flange for engagement with and supportingof an edge of the tile block to be cut.

5. A tile cutter according to claim 1, said gauge means including a tileblock supporting member transverse to said base and slidable rearwardlythereon, and a pair of rods slidably mounted on opposite sides of thebase with wall engaging rollers on one end thereof and the other endspivoted to said tile lock supporting member adjacent opposite ends ofthe member.

6. A tile cutter according to claim 1, said fixed gauge membercomprising a bar fixed to and depending from the front end of said base.

7. A tile cutter comprising a base, cutting means mounted adjacent one:end of the base, a tile block supporting member slidably mounted on thebase for movement relative to said cutting means, means for yieldinglyretaining said member adjacent the end of said base opposed to that towhich said cutting means is attached, a fixed gauge member on said lastbase end for engagement with the edge of a laid tile, a movable gaugemember slidably mounted on the base and connected to the tile supportingmember, said movable gauge member projecting from said last mentionedend of said base for contact with the wall adjacent the laid tile.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein said base is provided Withsurface-contacting ball bearings.

9. The combination of claim 7, wherein said movable gauge memberincludes a rod connected to the member and slidably mounted on the basetransverse to the fixed gauge member, said REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 675,877 Arney June 11, 19011,711,564 Hall May 7, 1929 2,007,396 Howard July 9, 1935 2,356,811Bellrose Apr. 29, 1944

